Tag: soccer

WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes daps up Lionel Messi after Sporting Kansas City loss

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shared a moment with soccer superstar Lionel Messi after Sporting Kansas City’s loss to Inter Miami on Sunday.

For the first time in years, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ celebrity was rivaled at Arrowhead Stadium.

On Sunday night, soccer superstar Lionel Messi took the field for Inter Miami against Sporting Kansas City in an alternate venue contest that drew one of the biggest crowds in MLS history.

Mahomes was seen dapping up Messi after Sporting Kansas City’s loss, exchanging pleasantries with the Ballon d’Or winner in the locker room after the game.

Mahomes, who has proven to be an avid soccer fan, seemed at ease with Messi in the building. Despite Sporting’s 3-2 loss to Inter, no bad blood was brewed between the three-time Super Bowl MVP and Messi, who was clearly pleased to see that the Chiefs quarterback was in attendance.

Legendary meetings like this only happen once in a blue moon, and while Mahomes still has a way to go before equaling or surpassing Messi’s name recognition, this encounter is sure to have put him on the radar of many soccer fans around the world.

Efe Obada like a role model for Commanders newest signee

Ndubuisi hopes to follow Obada’s lead to a long NFL career.

Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi met with the press Thursday, his first time since being signed by the Washington Commanders Wednesday.

Ndubuisi comes to the Commanders as a result of being part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

For those wondering, no, the signing of Ndubuisi does not unfairly eliminate a roster spot for another potential future player for the Commanders. This is because, beginning this season, each of the 32 NFL clubs is eligible to fill a 91st roster spot entering training camp and a 17th roster spot on its practice squad reserved for an international player.

The 23-year-old from Nigeria is a defensive lineman who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 298 pounds. He spent last season with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad.

“I see this as an opportunity to keep living the dream, keep getting better and trying to achieve what the goal is, trying to be the best player. I feel like as each day passes I get to know, learn. It’s a learning process for me.”

https://www.youtube.com/live/rTBDMzjaVHE?si=6KZmNnJzxLMgoGFO

When asked what he is trying to achieve, Ndubuisi responded, “To be better than I was like previously. (I am) just trying to do the best, and just do my job. At the end of the day it’s all about doing my job.”

Ndubuisi volunteered that the coaches are very encouraging to him, he feels at home and welcomed.

Efe Obada was born in Nigeria and raised in the Netherlands and England. He was the first player to go straight from a European football league to the NFL and has had some success as a pass rusher for the Commanders.

“He’s like a role model for us because he happened to show us, prove to us that yes, it’s possible by putting more hard work and trying to (make an) impact in doing his job. I feel like if he could do it there’s nothing stopping us from doing the same.”

“I grew up playing soccer and basketball, but football for me was something I got introduced to later. I was putting hope in basketball and my first-ever video about football was greatest hits in football. I was amazed about it, and it was just so exciting.”

As a result, Ndubuisi began watching more football videos on Youtube, which furthered his interest in the sport and then led to him wanting to learn how to play it. He spoke of watching some videos and then going outside to practice what he had observed.

Ndubuisi gained his first experience in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. He was then trying to make the team as an offensive lineman, but after appearing in one preseason game, he was released.

Patrick, Brittany Mahomes attended opening day at new KC Current stadium

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany attended opening day at the new stadium of the KC Current soccer team.

The NWSL’s Kansas City Current officially opened their new CPKC Stadium on Saturday with a 5-4 victory over the Portland Thorns. The stadium is the first in the world to be built for women’s professional sports.

Many attended the historic event, but probably none with the same vested interest as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, the team’s owners. The power couple was front and center, greeting fans entering the brand-new stadium.

“This is history, this is incredible, and for you guys to show up for these women and their own stadium is amazing,” Brittany said to the excited crowd before the game’s kickoff.

Patrick kept the energy high as he grabbed the microphone and led a loud “Let’s go KC” chant, much to the fans’ delight.

In January 2023, the Current announced that Patrick had joined his wife Brittany in the club’s ownership group. The NWSL club is Patrick’s third ownership stake in a Kansas City-based team, alongside the Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC. He is the first active NFL player to have an ownership stake in an NWSL club.

The wind helped Chicago Fire FC’s Kellyn Acosta score a stunning goal from half field to beat FC Montréal

WHAT A GOAL

Chicago Fire FC topped FC Montréal with one of the most jaw-dropping goals you’ll ever see in stoppage time.

In the extra minutes of Chicago’s regular season bout with Montréal at Soldier Field, midfielder Kellyn Acosta took a last-minute prayer shot from beyond the middle of the field to try and break the 3-3 tie and get his team its first win of the year.

Well, the wind gave Acosta’s shot an assist as it floated the ball down the pitch and right into the hands of goalie Jonathan Sirois, who was unable to stop the momentum and inadvertently knocked the ball right into the goal.

Seriously, they have to give the Chicago wind an assist on this absolutely spectacular goal. It won the game for the Fire and also proved, oh yes, they really don’t call this the Windy City for nothing.

As for Montréal, well, there’s only so much you can do when the elements get involved.

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Photos: LAFC and Real Salt Lake’s soccer match in the snow looked incredibly fun, cold and chaotic

Soccer in early March in Utah means you can celebrate goals by making a snow angel.

When you play a soccer match in Utah in early March, there’s a decent chance that you might be playing in the snow.

Players for Los Angeles FC and Real Salt Lake put on their cold gear, broke out the orange ball and played on the snow-covered turf at America First Field on Saturday as the flurries fell down in Sandy, Utah.

The conditions didn’t seem to bother RSL. Andres Gomez scored twice, and Cristian Arango netted a third goal for the home side. LAFC put six shots on-frame but couldn’t find the back of the net amid all the fluffy white stuff on the ground. RSL took the win and three points, 3-0.

Below are the three goals from the match, and a few photos from the game that best illustrate the chaotic conditions.